After attacking him, imams hail Modi for Taslima stance

The Centre’s move on controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has, for the first time, evoked applause from Muslim religious leaders across Bengal. The Modi government on Thursday cancelled the author’s resident permit and instead issued her a temporary tourist visa for two months.

Muslim religious leaders applauded PM Narendra Modi’s decision and appealed that Nasreen be denied entry into the country in the future.

“This should have been done much earlier, but I do not know why the previous government did not do it. She stays here and says things, which hurt the sentiments of Indians. A foreigner should not be allowed to disturb peace of this country,” Qari Fazlur Rehman, who leads the state’s largest Eid congregation, told HT.

One of the state’s most prominent clerics, Rehman had severely criticised the Modi government during Tuesday’s Eid prayers on Red Road.

The clerics said that the author had caused law and order problems and that her writings had hurt millions of Muslims. Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque, Maulana Noor-Ur-Rehman Barkari, who had previously issued a fatwa against Nasreen, said the move was a positive one.

“The army had to be summoned on Kolkata streets because of her. She should not be allowed to stay anywhere in the country,” said Barkati.

Imam of Cossipore Mosque, Maulana Syed Athar Abbas Rizvi said, “We have been keeping Taslima Nasreen in our country when Bangladesh has driven her out. She is a threat to peace and tranquillity in the country.”